The Washington Capitals made a roster move Saturday as Pierre-Luc Dubois was placed on injured reserve because of an illness, opening the door for Johnny Brodzinski to come up from the Hershey Bears.
Dubois’ IR designation is retroactive to October 9th, the last time he played, a 3-1 win over the New York Rangers. Even with more than a week having passed, he does not appear close to rejoining the lineup, so Washington turned to a veteran option in Brodzinski while Dubois recovers.
The timing comes during a stretch where the Capitals have already had to manage life without him. In his absence, they dropped games to the Seattle Kraken and the Carolina Hurricanes before bouncing back with a 5-4 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday.
Dubois has opened the season well after an injury-riddled 2025-26 campaign that limited him to 19 points in 29 games. Through four games this year, the 28-year-old has a goal and four points, along with a +4 rating and 17:06 of average ice time. He has been part of a Capitals team that is aiming high, with expectations of contending for first in the Metropolitan Division and being in the mix as the top team in the Eastern Conference.
Brodzinski, 33, brings plenty of NHL experience even if his path has been a winding one. He spent most of the last three seasons with the New York Rangers and never topped 60 games in a year.
Last season, he put up six goals and 16 points in 55 games. This season with Hershey, he has played four games and produced two goals and three assists for five points.
Over 264 regular-season NHL games, the Blaine, Minn. native has totaled 33 goals and 38 assists for 71 points. He has also skated in four Stanley Cup playoff games.
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Capitals Blue-Line Move Hints At A Key Return Vs Kings
A blue-line shuffle on the Capitals roster is pointing toward a familiar face getting back into the lineup. Washington reassigned defenseman Justin Holl to the AHLs Hershey Bears after a brief stint with the club, a move that comes as the team edges closer to getting Matt Roy back from a lower-body injury.
Holl appeared in three games for Washington during his call-up, but the transaction lines up with Roys anticipated return for the upcoming game against the Kings. After nearly three weeks out, Roys availability would give the Capitals a much steadier look on defense at a time when they can use it. [Read more 🡒]